# Variable stops working

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496>\
**Category:** Questions & Help\
**Created:** [October 7, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496 "2026-10-07T21:11:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Claus\_Jacobsen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/claus_jacobsen/32/81074_2.png) [@Claus\_Jacobsen](https://community.homey.app/u/Claus_Jacobsen)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496/1 "2026-10-07T21:11:12Z")

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Hello all. Anyone experienced that you have had a variable that stops working. I have a couple of variable that just shows “gray 42”. Then i could just make a New variable and use it the same place and it will work

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**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496/2 "2026-10-07T21:17:26Z")

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I don’t understand what you mean with “gray 42”? Is that the variable name, or value shown in the app? I never experienced this issue before

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496/3 "2026-10-07T21:36:57Z")

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Variables don’t stop working (using several Homeys for 6y now).

When they show a light gray colored value of _42_, it means it’s value is _empty_; somehow it got deleted by one or some of your own flow(s).  
([https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=what+does+42+mean](https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=what+does+42+mean))

Or,  
probably you look at the _example_ values of variables? Just ignore these.

The actual value of variables can be viewed per mobile app at `...More > Variables`

and per web app:

 ![Screenshot_20261007_232856_Vivaldi](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/7/d70435f6aae51d0102961ba98f28c573b40fbf58.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![4x4\_Pete](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/4x4_pete/32/113286_2.png) [@4x4\_Pete](https://community.homey.app/u/4x4_Pete)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/variable-stops-working/160496/4 "2026-10-07T22:03:08Z")

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This happens, when no value or an invalid value has been assigned to a variable. Set it to a valid value (e.g. 1 for a numeric variable) and it will show that value instead of the gray 42.